From the field: From the Twin Cities to Miami (plus Detroit!)

The community mobilization department would not be what it is without the activists around the country keeping us accountable every day in the fight for reproductive justice.

Visiting Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Miami was a whirlwind of a trip being that both happened back to back in one weekend! Yet, despite the hectic travel schedule, it is energizing all at once because of the strong organizing efforts the activists are making in their respective cities.

In the Minneapolis/St.Paul area, the activists are gearing up for a letter writing campaign for contraceptive equity as part of our Week of Action happening the week of August 9, 2010 (more to come on this soon!).

In Miami, MI-LOLA wrapped up a successful weekend-long Self Help Workshop centered on healing and bringing your mind, body, and spirit into the reproductive justice movement. Additionally, they will be hosting a community forum on contraceptive equity for our Week of Action as well.

In addition to field visits, NLIRH also participated in the 2010 US Social Forum in Detroit. Veronica Bayetti-Flores participated on a panel on environmental justice, which was filled to capacity with activists who were intrigued with our work with migrant farm workers. Veronica and I also hosted a successful workshop on Immigrant Rights as a Matter of Reproductive Justice. The participants at our workshop were very impressed with our work and one of them even stated it was the “best workshop they had been to in the entire conference”. Needless to say, the rest of the participants walked away with a rich understanding of how the immigrants rights movements and reproductive justice movements can work at the intersections.